Draft arm for soda fountains



July 20,1926. 1,593,308

H. J. M CUE DRAFT ARM FOR SODA FOUNTAINS Original Filed March 25, 192

MvQM

Patented July 20,1926.

UNITED STATES 1,593,308 PATENT OFFICE.

H ABRY J. MGOUE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A SSIGNOR TO THE H. J. MOCUE COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO.

DRAFT ARM FOR SODA. FOUNTAIN Application filed March 25, 1921, Serial'No. 455,378. Renewed December 13, 1924.

The present invention, relating, as indicated, to dispensing arms, is particularly directed to an improved type of dispensing arm to be used in soda fountains and like uses, for the purpose of dispensing syrups to be used in making soft drinks. One of the principal objects of the invention 15 the provision of such a device, which shall be simple in its construction and easy to opcrate, while at the same time the device shall be capable of accurately measuring and dispensing a given amount of syrup at each 0 eration. To the accomplishment oft e foregoing and related ends, said invention,

then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention mayv be used.

In said annexed drawing 2 Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved dispensing apparatus; Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the valve mechanism in section, and showing the entire syrup container, the line of section being indicated at 22 in Fig. 3; and Fig. .3 is a section at right angles to that of Fig. 2, taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

The present dispensing apparatus is of the gravity type, in which a quantity of as syrup is held in a container 1 provided with a suitable removable cover 2 above the dispensing arm proper to permit the syrup to flow by gravity into the dispensing arm. The dispensing arm proper consists of a housing 3 upon which is mounted the container 1, the housing being supported upon an arm 4- which may be formed at its lower end for attachment either to a vertical or horizontal part of a soda fountain or similar apparatus.

The container 1 is provided with an opening 5 in its lower end connecting with a corresponding opening 6 in the upper end of the housing 3, which opening or chamber 6 leads to two vertically arranged passages 7 and 7'. These two passages are disposed for connection with syrup measuring chambers 8 and 8' which at their lower ends are arranged to connect with a discharging conduit 9 terminating in a nozzle 10. The passages 7 and 7 are controlled by means of a single valve 11 which is provided with two passages therethrough 12 and 12' disposed at right angles to each other, so that only one of these passages will be in connection with the upper conduits or the syrup measuring chambers at one time. The connecting passages between the chambers 8 and 8, and the discharging conduit 9 are controlled by a similar valve 13 having assages 14 and 14 disposed at right anglbs to each other for the same purpose. 'These two valve members 11 and 13 extend exteriorly of the housing 3, where they are provided with mutilated gears 15 and 16 respectively which are both in meshwith a larger mutilated gear 17 operated by means of a handle 18.

Extending through the supporting member/1 is a conduit 19 which may be connected to a supply of plain carbonated water, this conduit passing through a suitable opening in the housing 3 and being controlled by means of a valve 20 provided with an externalhandle 21. This valve places the conduit 19 in connection with the conduit 22 extending vertically through the housing 3 and terminating in a spray nozzle 23 which is provided with lateral apertures arranged to cause the water to be discharged horizontally and against the lower walls of the passages in which the valve 13 is mounted, and also against the exposed portions of this valve. In this way the carbonated water serves to clean off these exposed surfaces of the valve and conduit connecting therewith which are exposed to the air and which would otherwise carry a deposit of syrup which in the air would dry and harden and affect the action of the valves.

To operate m'y improved dispensing apparatus, after a glass has been placed bcneath the spout or nozzle 10, the handle 18 is pulled forwardly and downwardly toward the operator, which will open the valve 14' and allow the syrup which has already sage 7" and valve passage 12'. At the same time the valve 11 is turned at right angles to its former position, closing the passage 12 and syrup is allowed to flow into this cham-' flowed into the chamber 8 through the pasber from the reservoir. The lower valve 13 is'at this time of course in such a position that the passage 14 is closed, and the syrup flowing into the chamber 8 is held there until a return movement of the handle 18 causes this chamber to discharge, and the chamber 8 to be filled. The present ap paratus is extremely convenient for an operator, since after the handle 18 is moved to the desired position, either up or down as the case may be, it does not have to be again moved, and the operator can then use the same hand for pulling down the valve handle 21 to allow carbonated water to flow into the glass to the desired level. This carbonated water in flowing into the glass acts to clean the exposed portions of the valve 13 as already described. The valve 21 must then be closed by the operator who can conveniently, however, keep his hand on this valve during the flow of the carbonated water, and this must be done in any case, as

otherwise too much water will be charged into i{he glass, and the glass will of course A further advantage of the present dispensing arm is that it provides an accurately measured charge of syrup at each operation. In dispensing devices in which the flow of syrup 1s.cut oil at the will of the operator, in almost every case a larger amount of syrup than is actually necessary is allowed to flow into the-glass, causing a considerable loss in an entire days operations. In any event, even though a less rather than a greater amount of syrup than is actually necessary is used, the beverages compounded with these charges of syrup are not uniform, and are hence in general less satisfactory. In the present apparatus exactly the same amount of syrup is charged at each operation, giving absolutely uniform beverages, while the amount of the charge is preliminarily calculated, and is the amount which has been found necessary to satisfy the average customer.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism heiein disclosed, pro vided the means stated by the following claim or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention In a dispensing apparatus for fluent material, a source of fluid supply, a measuring chamber connected with said fluid supply. inlet and outlet valves for said chamber, and means connected to an independent source of fluid supply for discharging said fluent material immediately against said outlet valve.

Signed by me, this 17th day of March,

, HARRY J. MGCUE. 

